Keren, Eritrea—Every morning, 28-year-old Amatazgi Gumbot opens her small health consultation point in the village of Shasharama in Keren, the capital of Anseba Region in northern Eritrea, before heading out to meet residents in neighbouring villages. Amatazgi is one of Eritrea’s barefoot doctors, bringing health services closer to people living in some of the country’s most remote areas.
Her work takes her to schools, households and community gathering places, where she raises awareness about health issues and supports people in need of care. She encourages pregnant women to attend antenatal care consultations, promotes childhood immunization, provides first-line care and refers patients to Keren Hospital when they require more specialized treatment.
In the Anseba Region, this model is helping improve access to health services for communities that are sometimes far from health facilities. In some localities, residents must travel between 5 and 10 kilometres to reach the nearest health facility. To address these challenges, the Ministry of Health works with barefoot doctors to bring health services closer to communities.
According to Dr Henok Ntskaye, Medical Director for the Anseba Region, these community health workers play a role that extends beyond basic care. “They know the families, their concerns and their needs. This close connection often allows them to identify health problems quickly and act before they become more serious,” he explains.
The barefoot doctors programme originated during the struggle for independence in Eritrea and continues today to support the country’s efforts to bring health services closer to people living in remote areas. At the national level, the programme currently includes 237 barefoot doctors across all six regions of Eritrea, serving approximately 1.1 million people.
World Health Organization (WHO) supports the development of strategic documents for the community health system, including those related to the barefoot doctors programme, and provides essential equipment used during community consultations. Since 2025, WHO has also supported the provision of around 200 community consultation kits for barefoot doctors.
“By bringing care, information and prevention services closer to communities, barefoot doctors help ensure that more people can access the health services they need, when and where they need them,” says Dr Mary Stephen, WHO Representative in Eritrea.
The impact of this community-based presence can be seen in the daily lives of residents. Zahaitu, 61, had recently experienced fever, back pain and severe fatigue. Thanks to Amatazgi’s presence in her community, she was able to receive an examination and prompt first-line care.
“I would have continued to suffer if Amatazgi had not been there to help me and provide the medicines I needed. Because she is present in our community, things are much easier for us,” says Zahaitu.
Over the years, Amatazgi has witnessed significant changes in her community. One of the developments she is most proud of relates to maternal health. Through awareness-raising activities with families, more women are attending antenatal consultations and choosing to give birth in health facilities. “I am particularly happy to see that more women are now using maternity services rather than giving birth at home. This helps protect the health of mothers and newborns,” she says.
Visits to villages also provide opportunities to engage with adolescents and their families. Drawing on her own experience, Amatazgi raises awareness among girls about the importance of continuing their education and making informed decisions about their future.
“I want to help girls have more opportunities. Providing them with information and guidance is also part of my role in the community,” she says.
After several years of serving her community, Amatazgi’s motivation remains unchanged. “I feel useful when I can help the people who live around me. Seeing members of my community healthy is my greatest reward,” she concludes.
